Frostproof hydrant

ABSTRACT

A frostproof hydrant having a riser and a chamber adjacent a lower end of the riser and below frost level. A flexible diaphragm divides the chamber into a pair of sections. A diaphragm actuator attached to the diaphragm is moved through the chamber in a direction away from a riser connection means to draw water from the riser into the chamber to be stored in the chamber below frost level when the hydrant is turned off. The diaphragm actuator advances the diaphragm through the chamber in an opposite direction to return the riser water to the riser.

United States Patent Uroshevich [4 Nov. 6, 1973 FROSTPROOF HYDRANT 2,630,130 3 1953 Murdock 137/281 [75] Inventor: Miroslav Uroshevich, Cincinnati,

Ohio Primary Examiner-Martin P. Schwadron Assistant Examiner-Richard Gerard [73] Assignee: Murdock lnc., Cincinnati, Ohio Atmmey peare & schaeperklaus [22] Filed: May 13, 1971 211 Appl. No.: 142,968 [57] ABSTRACT A frostproof hydrant having a riser and a chamber adjacent a lower end of the riser and below frost level. A '8" gi fii flexible diaphragm divides the chamber into a Pair of [58] Fie'ld 291494 sections. A diaphragm actuator attached to the dia- "i' 3 5 92/98 phragm is moved through the chamber in a direction away from a riser connection means to draw water [561 Refer nces Cited from the riser into the chamber to be stored in the e chamber below frost level when the hydrant is turned UNITED STATES PATENTS off. The diaphragm actuator advances the diaphragm 2,733,572 2/l956 Butterfield et al /9 D X through the chamber in an opposite direction to return gegfister the riser water to the riser.

avies 3,105,637 10/1963 Puster 251/75 X 4 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures FROSTPROOF HYDRANT This invention relates to non-freezing and pollutionproof hydrants and more particularly relates to a hydrant for supplying potable water in exposed locations where freezing weather conditions are encountered.

Such hydrants may be exposed to freezing temperatures during winter weather. Water mains and valves may be located in the ground below levels to which frost can penetrate, but the water must be led from the buried main to above ground level through a riser ex posed to freezing temperatures. An object of this invention is to provide a hydrant having a water storage space below frost line to which water remaining in the riser after each use is automatically transferred and stored without danger of pollution when the hydrant is shut off or of freezing during cold weather.

A further object of this invention is to provide a hydrant having a water storage chamber which includes a deformable diaphragm member that is deformed to make room for riser water when the hydrant is turned off.

Briefly, this invention provides a hydrant which includes a chamber below frost level which is divided by a defonnable diaphragm and in which the diaphragm can move. A main valve ls located at one end of the chamber. The valve communicates with a riser and with the chamber at one side of the diaphragm. Means is provided for moving the diaphragm between a valve open position in which means associated with the diaphragm engages a valve operator to open the valve to permit water to flow from a main through the valve and up the riser, an intermediate position in which the valve is closed and water remains in the riser, and a fully closed position in which the riser water is stored inside the chamber. Means is provided in the riser to permit entry of air at the upper end of the riser to replace the riser water.

The above and other objects and features of the in-- vention will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains from the following detailed description and the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hydrant constructed in accordance with an embodiment ofthis invention, a valve open position of a handle thereof being shown in dashed lines;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view in section on an enlarged scale onthe line 2-2 in FIG. 1, the hydrant being shown in fully closed position, an open position of the handle being shown in dashed lines;

FIG. 3 is a view taken on the same line as FIG. 2 but showing the hydrant in open position, an intermediate position of a diaphragm thereof being'shown in dashed lines;

FIG. 4 is a view in'section taken on the line 4-4 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view, partly in section showing a valve member and associatedparts, the. valve member being shown in open position in full lines and in closed position in dot-dash lines;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view in transverse section of a lower portion of an operating rod and showing connections between the operating rod anda diaphragm operating piston member;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view showing details of a vacuum breaker mechanism which forms a part of the hydrant;

FIG. 8 is a view in section taken on an enlarged scale on the line 38 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 9 is a view partly in upright section and partly in side elevation of a connection between an actuator rod and a diaphragm support member forming a part of the hydrant; and

FIG. I0 is a view in section taken on an enlarged scale on the line 10-10 in FIG. 3.

In the following detailed description and the drawings, like reference characters indicate like parts.

In FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 is shown a hydrant 20 which includes an upright hollow casing 22 mounted on a ground plate 23 which rests on the ground 24 (FIG. I). A riser tube 26 and an upright hollow housing 27 are mounted inside the casing 22 and extend downwardly through openings 28 and 29', respectively in the ground plate 23 to below the frost line. Set screws 30 and 30B in the ground plate 23 engage the riser tube 26 and the housing 27, respectively, to hold the ground plate 23, the housing 27 and the riser tube 26 is assembled relation. At the upper end of the housing 27 is mounted a fitting 31. The upper end of the casing 22 fits around and is positioned by the fitting 31. A cap fitting 33 is also mounted on the fitting 31. The cap fitting 33 includes a return bend tube 34 which is connected to the upper end of the riser tube 26 by a sleeve 36 and terminates in a discharge fitting 37.

A vacuum breaker assembly 39 (FIGS. 2 and 7) is also mounted in the cap fitting 33. An air inlet line 411 communicates with the vacuum breaker assembly 39. The vacuum breaker assembly 39 permits entry of air into the upper end of the riser tube 26 when the pressure in the riser tube is reduced but prevents escape of water under pressure. The vacuum breaker assembly is generally of the type shown in Murdock et al. U.S. Pat. No. 2,630,130 and includes a'disc holder 42 mounted in a socket 43 in the cap fitting 33, a valve disc 44, and a channeled plug 46. As shown in FIG. 7, channels 47 of the plug 46 communicate with air inside the cap fitting 33 through the air inlet line 4-1. An annular seat 43 is formed on the inner end of the plug 46 and, when water is under pressure in the riser tube 26, the valve disc 44 is held against the valve seat 43, but, when the pressure inside the head of the riser tube is reduced, the pressure on the valve disc 44 is released, and air can enter the top of the riser through the air inlet line 41 and through a line 51 which communicates with the interior of the head of the riser'tube 26.

A shaft 53 (FIGS. 2, 3, and 4) is rotatably mounted in bearing openings 55-56 (FIG. 4) in the cap fitting 33.;A handle 57 is mounted on the shaft 33 and is keyed thereto so that the shaft 53 swings with the handle 57 between a valve open position shown in FIG. 3 and a fully closed position shown in full lines in FIG. 2. A twin crank member 58 is mounted on the central portion of the shaft 53 (FIG. 4) to turn therewith. A

link 59 (FIGS. 2 and 3) is pivotally connected to the twin crank member 58 at an upper end of the link 59. A lower end of the link 59 is pivotally connected to a clevis 62 which is mounted on the upper end of a tubular actuator rod 63. Guide sleeves 64 and 66 (FIG. 2) are mounted on the tubular rod 63 and are slidably received inside the housing 27 for guiding the rod 63 as the rod moves up and down inside the housing 27. Set screws 67 and 67' (FIG. 8) mounted in the sleeves 64 and 66, respectively hold the sleeves in position on the rod 63. Lengthwise cut-away portions 68 in the guide sleeves permit escape of air along the rod 63.

At the bottom of the housing 27 is mounted a chamber and valve guiding assembly 71 which is disposed below frost line. The assembly 71 includes an upper member 72 of generally inverted cup shape and a lower member 73 of generally cup shape which form a chamber 72'. The upper member is provided with a central opening 721 in which a spider 722 is mounted. The spider 722 guides and steadies the lower end portion of the tubular rod 63. Openings 723 in the spider 722 provide communication between the interior of the upper member 72 and the housing 27. Flanges 74 and 76 of the members 72 and 73, respectively, engage and grip an annular portion 77 (FIG. 3) of a flexible diaphragm 78. Bolts 79 hold the flanges 74 and 76 in firm engagement with the edge portion 77 of the diaphragm to provide a liquid tight seal at the edge of the diaphragm.

A cup-shaped piston member 81 can move up and down inside the chamber 71 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The piston member 81 includes a flat lower wall 82 against which a central portion of the diaphragm 78 is held by a disc plate 83. A screw fastener 84 which extends into a threaded socket 86 in a central portion or stem 87 of the piston member 81 is held by the disc plate 83 in position with the central portion of the diaphgram tightly gripped between an annular flange portion 87' of the plate 83 and the lower wall 82 of the piston member 81. An annular side wall 88 of the piston member 81 is radially spaced inwardly of side walls 89 and 91 of the chamber members 72 and 73 respectively to form a space 92 which can receive a flexible portion 93 of the diaphragm 78 between the portion that is held between the disc plate 83 and the lower wall 82 and the portion which is held between the flanges 74 and 76.

The stem 87 includes an upwardly extending portion 94 which is received inside a lower end portion of the tubular actuator rod 63. A transverse pin 96 mounted in the portion 94 extends into slots 97 (FIG. 9) and 971 (FIG. 6) in the rod 63. A compression spring 98 mounted inside the tubular rod 63 engages an upper end of the portion 94 to urge the piston member 81 to the position shown in FIG. 6 in full lines. A transverse pin 99 mounted in the tubular rod 63 backs up the compression spring 98.

A lower face 101 (FIG. 10) of the head of the screw fastener 84 is provided with a socket 1011 which receives an upper end of a valve stem 102. An annular valve disc 103 (FIG. is mounted on an annular flange 104 carried by the stem 102. The valve disc 103 moves inside a valve housing 106 which is a part of the lower member 73 of the chamber 71 and is engageable with a valve seat 1104 which surrounds an opening 105 through which valve stem 102 extends. The valve disc 103 moves between an open position shown in full lines in FIG. 5 and a closed position shown in dot-dash lines. A compression spring 107 mounted on a lower portion 108 of the stem 102 urges the valve disc 103 to the closed position. The lower end portion of the stem is supported and guided by a spider 109 mounted in an annular main inlet fitting 111. The spider 109 also serves to back up a lower end of the compression spring 107. The upper end portion of the stem is guided by a spider 113 (FIGS. 3 and mounted inside a lower portion of the lower member 73. Water under pressure enters the inlet fitting 1 1 1 from a water main 1 14 (FIG. 3).

When the hydrant is in the FIG. 3 (open) position, water flows from the main 114 through the inlet fitting 111 and through openings 116 in the spider 109 (FIG. 5) and through the opening surrounding the stem 102 into a side arm 118 (FIG. 3) of the lower member 73 which communicates with the lower end of the riser tube 26 and upwardly through the riser tube 26 and around the return bend tube 34 to be discharged through the outlet fitting 37. When the handle 57 is swung clockwise, the actuator rod 63 draws the piston member 81 upwardly initially to a position shown in dashed lines in FIG. 3 at which the valve stem 102 is released and the valve disc 103 is held closed by the spring 107 and by pressure of water in the main 114. As the actuator rod 63 and the piston member 81 are further advanced upwardly as the handle is turned further in clockwise direction, water from the riser tube 26 is drawn downwardly and into the lower portion of the chamber 72, the water passing along the side arm 118 and through openings 121 (FIG. 10) in the spider 113. As shown in FIG. 2, the riser water is stored in the chamber 72 below frost level. The vacuum breaker assembly 39 permits entry of air into the upper end of the riser tube 26 to prevent drawing of water from any hose or the like (not shown) which may be attached to the outlet fitting 37. When the handle 57 is turned back in a counterclockwise direction, the actuator rod 63 is advanced downwardly with the piston member 81 until the head of the screw fastener 84 engages the valve stem 102, and the riser water from the chamber 72 is returned to the riser tube 26. Further advance of the handle in a counterclockwise direction causes compression of the spring 98 as the actuator rod 63 advances toward the dotted line position of FIG. 6 until sufficient compression has been built up in the spring 98 to cause full opening of the valve whereupon the valve is advanced to the open (FIG. 3) position. The spring 98 causes rapid opening of the valve to avoid water hammer.

The hydrant construction illustrated in the drawings and described above is subject to structural modification without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new anddesire to secure by letters patent is:

1. A frostproof hydrant which comprises a riser, a chamber adjacent a lower end of the riser, a flexible diaphragm dividing the chamber into a pair of sections and having an area adjacent its margin rollable to lie in supported relation against the wall of the chamber, means connecting the lower end of the riser to the chamber on one side of the diaphragm, a diaphragm actuator having attached thereto a semi-floating diaphragm piston pivotable about axes transversely of actuator movement and which piston at a radial distance from said axes is attached to the diaphragm centrally thereof and said diaphragm having a cup shape portion lying in supported relation against the actuator piston, valve means for controlling flow of water from a main to the riser including spring means urging the valve to closed position and closing the valve except when the valve is engaged by the diaphragm actuator, piston and said valve means being provided with a valve actuator engageable by the diaphragm actuator piston when the diaphragm is adjacent the riser connection means for opening the valve to permit flow of water from the main to the riser, and means including said diaphragm actuator for moving the diaphragm actuator piston through the chamber in spaced relation to the walls thereof and in a direction away from the riser connection means when the valve is closed to increase the area of diaphragm supported by the chamber wall while decreasing the area of diaphragm supported by the actuator piston and drawing water from the riser into the chamber to be stored in the chamber below frost level and for advancing the diaphragm actuator piston through the chamber in an opposite direction to return the riser water to the riser with accompanying decrease in the area of diaphragm supported by the chamber wall and increase in the area of diaphragm supported by the actuator piston, said diaphragm moving means including a rod having a portion telescopically related to a portion of the diaphragm actuator piston and resilient means between the rod and the diaphragm actuator, piston portion the resilient means being loaded when the rod is moved in valve opening direction when the valve actuator is engaged by the diaphragm actuator, piston the resilient means causing rapid opening of the valve when valve closing force applied to the valve by the valve closing spring means and by pressure in the main is overcome by the loading of the resilient means.

2. A frostproof hydrant which comprises a casing mounted on and extending above the ground, a riser in said casing and extending from said casing to below frost line, a chamber adjacent a lower end of the riser, a flexible diaphragm dividing the chamber into a pair of sections and having an area adjacent its margin rollable to lie in supported relation against the wall of the chamber, means connecting the lower end of the riser to the chamber on one side of the diaphragm, hollow means connecting the upper section of the chamber to the casing, a diaphragm actuator supported by the easing and extending through said hollow means to said chamber and having attached thereto a semifloating diaphragm supporting piston pivotable about axes transversely of actuator movement and which piston at a radial distance from said axes is attached to the diaphragm centrally thereof and said diaphragm having a cup shape portion lying in supported relation against the actuator piston, valve means for controlling flow of water from a main to the riser, and means including said diaphragm actuator for moving the diaphragm ac tuator piston through the chamber in spaced relation to the walls thereof and in a direction away from the riser connection means when the valve is closed to increase the area of diaphragm supported by the chamber wall while decreasing the area of diaphragm supported by the actuator piston and drawing water from the riser into the chamber to be stored in the chamber below frost level and for advancing the diaphragm actuator I through the chamber in an opposite direction to return the riser water to the riser with accompanying decrease in the area of diaphragm supported by the chamber wall and increase in the area of diaphragm supported by the actuator piston.

'3'. A frostproof hydrant as in claim 2 wherein the valve is provided with a valve actuator engageable by the diaphragm actuator piston when the diaphragm is adjacent the riser connection means for opening the valve to permit flow of water from the main to the riser.

4. A frostproof hydrant as in claim 2 wherein the piston extends into the diaphragm actuator, a pin extends transversely through the piston and actuator coupling same for limited pivotal and telescoping movement of the piston relative to the actuator, and resilient means bias the piston toward extended axially aligned relation UNITED STATES PATENT orwcr CERTIFICATE OF CCRRECTWN Patent No. 3,770,003 Dated NQHQIBDQ; 5 1&13

Inventor MIROSLAV UROSHEVICH It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

In claim 1:

Column 4, line 64, "actuator, piston" should be actuator piston,

Column 5, line 20, "tor, piston" should be tor piston portion,

Signed and sealed this 2nd day of April 19%;.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLI:2IGHER,JRt C, MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents F RM P 7-1050 (10-69) USCOMM-DC 60376-1 69 U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: I959 0-366-334 a 

1. A frostproof hydrant which comprises a riser, a chamber adjacent a lower end of the riser, a flexible diaphragm dividing the chamber into a pair of sections and having an area adjacent its margin rollable to lie in supported relation against the wall of the chamber, means connecting the lower end of the riser to the chamber on one side of the diaphragm, a diaphragm actuator having attached thereto a semi-floating diaphragm piston pivotable about axes transversely of actuator movement and which piston at a radial distance from said axes is attached to the diaphragm centrally thereof and said diaphragm having a cup shape portion lying in supported relation against the actuator piston, valve means for controlling flow of water from a main to the riser including spring means urging the valve to closed position and closing the valve except when the valve is engaged by the diaphragm actuator, piston and said valve means being provided with a valve actuator engageable by the diaphragm actuator piston when the diaphragm is adjacent the riser connection means for opening the valve to permit flow of water from the main to the riser, and means including said diaphragm actuator for moving the diaphragm actuator piston through the chamber in spaced relation to the walls thereof and in a direction away from the riser connection means when the valve is closed to increase the area of diaphragm supported by the chamber wall while decreasing the area of diaphragm supported by the actuator piston and drawing water from the riser into the chamber to be stored in the chamber below frost level and for advancing the diaphragm actuator piston through the chamber in an opposite direction to return the riser water to the riser with accompanying decrease in the area of diaphragm supported by the chamber wall and increase in the area of diaphragm supported by the actuator piston, said diaphragm moving means including a rod having a portion telescopically related to a portion of the diaphragm actuator piston and resilient means between the rod and the diaphragm actuator, piston portion the resilient means being loaded when the rod is moved in valve opening direction when the valve actuator is engaged by the diaphragm actuator, piston the resilient means causing rapid opening of the valve when valve closing force applied to The valve by the valve closing spring means and by pressure in the main is overcome by the loading of the resilient means.
 2. A frostproof hydrant which comprises a casing mounted on and extending above the ground, a riser in said casing and extending from said casing to below frost line, a chamber adjacent a lower end of the riser, a flexible diaphragm dividing the chamber into a pair of sections and having an area adjacent its margin rollable to lie in supported relation against the wall of the chamber, means connecting the lower end of the riser to the chamber on one side of the diaphragm, hollow means connecting the upper section of the chamber to the casing, a diaphragm actuator supported by the casing and extending through said hollow means to said chamber and having attached thereto a semifloating diaphragm supporting piston pivotable about axes transversely of actuator movement and which piston at a radial distance from said axes is attached to the diaphragm centrally thereof and said diaphragm having a cup shape portion lying in supported relation against the actuator piston, valve means for controlling flow of water from a main to the riser, and means including said diaphragm actuator for moving the diaphragm actuator piston through the chamber in spaced relation to the walls thereof and in a direction away from the riser connection means when the valve is closed to increase the area of diaphragm supported by the chamber wall while decreasing the area of diaphragm supported by the actuator piston and drawing water from the riser into the chamber to be stored in the chamber below frost level and for advancing the diaphragm actuator through the chamber in an opposite direction to return the riser water to the riser with accompanying decrease in the area of diaphragm supported by the chamber wall and increase in the area of diaphragm supported by the actuator piston.
 3. A frostproof hydrant as in claim 2 wherein the valve is provided with a valve actuator engageable by the diaphragm actuator piston when the diaphragm is adjacent the riser connection means for opening the valve to permit flow of water from the main to the riser.
 4. A frostproof hydrant as in claim 2 wherein the piston extends into the diaphragm actuator, a pin extends transversely through the piston and actuator coupling same for limited pivotal and telescoping movement of the piston relative to the actuator, and resilient means bias the piston toward extended axially aligned relation to the actuator. 